BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Hot Smoking and Barbecuing => Topic started by: t_dub on February 17, 2012, 09:24:19 PM

Title: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: t_dub on February 17, 2012, 09:24:19 PM
not sure how to fix this.  every time i smoke salmon, all the moisture from the salmon condenses on the top of my OBS and drips black creosote looking gunk onto a good portion of the fish.  it pretty much ruins a handful of pieces each time.  i've played with temperatures and keeping the top vent from fully closed to fully open, but still get the drips each time.  any ideas on how to fix this cause i'm all out of ideas and it's really starting to piss me off?
Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: KyNola on February 17, 2012, 09:34:56 PM
Yep, open the vent 100% or better yet remove it.  If that doesn't fix the issue(and it should) put a piece of cheesecloth or one of those paper coffee filters on your top rack so if the condensation drips it won't drip on your salmon.  100% vent open 100% of the time should fix your issue though.
Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: Salmonsmoker on February 18, 2012, 09:42:08 AM
I have the same problem with my six rack. Vent's always full open. Mine seems to drip only from around the vent area and stains the piece right underneath. I'm going to hang a throw-away aluminum pie tin beneath the vent to catch the drips, leaving ample room for smoke and moisture to exit the vent. I think it's cool enough around the vent for the the moisture to start condensing before it's escaped into the air. I don't seem to have this problem when the ambient temps outside are warmer.
Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: t_dub on February 18, 2012, 09:44:55 AM
good ideas.  thanks guys!!!
Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: watchdog56 on February 19, 2012, 06:33:37 AM
I run with vent fully open all the time. You may want to start with lower temps and run them up slowly. Start at 120-130 for 1 hour then up to 140 for 1 hour then 150 for 1 hour then 160 until done.
Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: ghost9mm on February 19, 2012, 03:47:34 PM
Quote from: KyNola on February 17, 2012, 09:34:56 PM
Yep, open the vent 100% or better yet remove it.  If that doesn't fix the issue(and it should) put a piece of cheesecloth or one of those paper coffee filters on your top rack so if the condensation drips it won't drip on your salmon.  100% vent open 100% of the time should fix your issue though.

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Title: Re: Black Gunk Dripping on My Fish
Post by: Habanero Smoker on February 20, 2012, 02:21:11 AM
I find the vent useful in controlling temperatures in the winter, and it depend on what you are smoking and the size of the load you have. If you swapped out your bowl for a large pan, that exposes a large surface of water that is evaporating, that is going to add moisture and I can see running the vent full open.